There was a moment today where I honestly thought I would be posting and announcing that I was no longer a paramedic student.

Today was a day that I had  been dreading from the beginning. It was a day that I knew was coming and that I tried hard to prepare for.  Yes, today was the day when I thought my future as a paramedic student might most be in jeopardy (up to this point).  It was:

The drug dosage calculation critical. (DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN)

Today we had the critical and a final test on pharmacology.  I wasn’t sure which would be first when I first walked in.  I was the second to arrive (as usual) and I made some small talk while I looked over my formulas and a few drug cards that I had a particular hard time remembering.  As class got under way, my instructor told us that our first order of business for the day was our dosage critical.  Cool, let’s get it over with.  Pencil at the ready, I awaited my paper.  Down on my desk it went and I started working.  An hour and seven math problems later (I got stuck on a couple), time is called.  We go over the answers.  Now, I should point out that this critical, as I’m sure it is at most every other paramedic school, is an all or nothing affair.  I missed two.

“Fudge.” (yes, that’s an actual quote)

The second attempt would have to wait until after our pharmacology test.  After I handed in my drug test, I took a break to get my mind right while some of the others finished their tests.  ”You got this.  You know what you did wrong, fix it.”

I, along with some of the others, go back for our re-do.  A new test is handed to me and I work the new set of seven problems.  This time… SUCCESS!

I won’t lie; I was scared. OK, I was scared to death.  I was honestly worried that I wasn’t going to pass and that I’d no longer be a paramedic student because of some math.  As my instructor pointed out to me, I know what to do, I just have to do it.  I’ve got this mental block that keeps me thinking that I stink at math.  I’m certainly not the best at it but the block is so strong that it keeps me from doing the work.  This time, I was able to complete the problems and all was well in the #questforthediscopatch again.

Good news to report on the pharm. test too: I made a 90!

Today was my last day in class for this semester.  Tomorrow I have my last clinical of the semester and then a quick drive to campus to drop off my clinical paperwork on Thursday.  After that, Christmas break officially begins.  YES!

This semester has taught me many lessons.  Oh sure, I’ve learned a lot about patient assessment, pharmacology, airway management and studying.  Yes, studying.  My study habits aren’t perfect but I’ve improved them somewhat and I feel that I’ll be better prepared for what next semester will bring with it.  While I’m eager to begin the next step on my journey, I’m grateful for the break and look forward to spending time with my wife and family and just letting my mind rest.

I’ll have some posts during my break, I’m sure.  Who knows what my mind will come up with once the much neglected household chores are done and my mind is allowed to be idle.  And I have some smack talk to do when the Gator Bowl gets a little closer.  Even with finals and such being on my mind, I haven’t forgotten about my and Setla’s bet!